Transfer press



H. J. TAPLIN TRANSFER PRESS April 11, 1933.

5 'Sheets-Sheet l Y Filed Feb. l2, 1931 /N vENToR ATTORNEY H. J. TAPLIN TRANSFER PRESS April 11, 1933.

Filed Feb. 12, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 H. J. TAPLIN TRANSFER PRESS April ll, 1933.

3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 12, 1931 sion'is made for the accurate adjustment of Patented pr. 11, 1933 PATENT .OFFICE HAROLD JOHN TAPLIN, OF WEMBLEY, LONDON, ENGLAND TRANSFER PRESS Application filed February 12, 1931, Serial No'. 515,381, and in Great Britain February 13, 1930.

The present invention has for its object to provide an improved machine for carrying out a process such as that described in patentapplication No. 328,909 of transferring litho transfers to wood, cloth or the like, in which use is made at the moment of effecting the pressing operation of steam under substantial pressure adapted to carry the. transfer from the transfer paper into the pores of the wood or cloth to give a permanent impression which will not rub or dry off.

The invention primarily comprises a machine having in combination means to apply a damped band to the work and means tov feed forward intermittently a plurality of transfers mounted in a continuous web which is automatically fed forwards by the required amount between each operation.

Preferably the endless damping band is automatically moved with the transfer web from a common actuating means.

The improvements further comprise a machine asset forth above'in which provithe transfers can be ensured and also so that noidamage is caused to the machine should a board of unusual thickness be inserted be- These, and other improvements will be hereinafter more particularly described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which- Figure 1 shows a general View ofthe mai chine forming a preferred embodiment adapted to apply a transfer to a wooden board or the like.

Figure 2 illustrating a board so treated. Figure 3 is a detail of the machine in Figure 1, and

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic representa,- tionV to a smaller scale of part of the mechanism.

F igures and 6 are further details of the machine illustrated in Figure 1.

TurningA now to Figurerl7 of the dra-wings, the machine is supported on a recessed standard 1, and comprises an upper press plate 2.' and a lower press plate :3the former being fixed andthe-,latter lifted-at each revolution of the driving shaft 4 by means of a cam 5 engaging a rocker arm 6 formed solid with one of a pair of toggle links 7, 8 adapted to lift a pillar 9 solid with the movable 5 press plate 3.

The lower link 7 is supported by a spring 10, the pressure of which can be adjusted by a screw bolt 11. The lower press plate is faced with a rpad 12 of rubber or the liker upon which is laid the board 13 on which 6@ the transfer is to be applied.

Between each lift of the lower press plate 3 a wetted length of an endless damping, band 14 is movedv between the two press plates 2, 3. The damping band is passed i gaged by a spring-pressed pin 21 carried by 75 a sleeve 22 mountedl on the shaft 17a and solid with a spur wheel 23 engaged by-a rack 24 reciprocated by a crank 25 mounted on the shaft 4, the end of the armi which forms the extension of the rack being connected to the crank 25 in an adjustable manner by means of the slot 26.

The endless band and operating rollers are shown diagrammatically in Figure 4, which also illustrates a heating coil 27 placed with- 85 in the upper press plate 2, the current iny said coil'being controlled by a thermostat 28;

The water trough 18 is supported from a pair of pivoted links 31, 32 and can be rocked and tilted away from the position illustrated by swinging the links to the left in Figure I. Vhen in the normal position, the trough is locked by means of a thumb nut 33 engaging a screwed pin passing through an arcuate slot 34 in a fixed member as will readily be understood.

It will be realized that on each lift of the rack 24, the pin 21 will rotate the wheel' 2O and shaft 17 a causing the dampingy band to be moved between the plates by an amount equal at least to the width of the plates, the reverse movement of the rack being ineffective on the damping band. Thus a. fresh length of wet band is moved between the plates 2, 3 between each operation of the press.

The transfer band 4() comprises a series of transfers which will usually be similar to each other, printed in continuous series on a web of paper or other backing. The band passes beneath the damping band 14 between the press plates 2, 3 and it will be realized from Figure 4 that on each operation of the press the transfer will be carried into the board 13 by means of steam generated by the heat of the coil 27 applied to the moisture in the band 14 behind the transfer band.

.'IheY intermittent movement of the transfer band is derived from that of the shaft 17 a through'a roller 41 coupled to the roller 17 by a chain 42, a spring roller 43 geared also to the roller 41 co-operating with it to effect the drive. 'Ihe band is unrolled from the roller 44 and rolled after use on a roller 45 which is connected by a chain 46 to roller 41. The operating rollers for the transfer band are carried in a pair of yokes 47 mounted by slots 48 on bolts carried in the fixed part of the machine. With this arrangement the yokes can be adjusted laterally within the limits of the slots 48 so as to correct within the said limits the placing of the transfer exactly over theboard 13. The limits, however, are in the case shown no greater than is permitted by the amount of slack that can be allowed in the chain 42. Nevertheless, the movement forms a convenient means of adjustment if after a long run the accurate positioning of the transfer becomes disturbed.

Preferably, a stripper edge or blade 48a is provided to cause the transfer web to separate cleanly from the damping band, and a further stripper may be provided if desired to lift the transfer web from the board.

For the automatic feeding of the boards, I provide a table 50 supported on brackets 51 and carrying a hopper comprising vertical plates the positions of which are made adjustable by means of slots in the table 50. The supply of boards 52 is snugly lodged between the plates and the lower board is pushed from beneath the pile by lingers 53 carried by a slide 54 connected by a link 55 to a rocker arm 56 connected to a rocking shaft 57 reciprocated by means of a connecting rod 58 adjustably coupled to a crank 59 on the main shaft 4.

The fingers 53, Figure 6, are pivoted in slots in the slide 54 and are gravity controlled so that they engage the lowest board when moved in the positive direction, but can slip under it when moved rearwardly.

In order to ensurethe accurate feeding forward of the web 40 and damping band 14, we further' provide a gripper comprising blocks 60, 61 coupled by a pair of parallel links and controlled by a spring 62, the blocks being reciprocated by means of a link 63 coupled to a crank 64 on the shaft 57 and sliding along the edge of the lower press plate 3. The two bands 14, 40 are engaged between the blocks 60, 61, and when these are moved to the right in Figure 5 the upper block 60 is frictionally caused to lift against the control of the spring 62 and the bands are freed from the blocks. When, on the other hand, the blocks move to the left in Figure 5, the spring supplements friction to cause the blocks to engage with the bands and hold them together whilst they are moved forward by the rack 24.

After a board 13 has been printed, it is pushed awaybetween the plates 2, 3 by the next advancing board. In the early part of this movement, however, it becomes caught by a pair of rollers 70, 71 continuously rotated by a chain 72 from a spur wheel 7 3 geared to a. larger wheel 74 on the shaft 4, the rollers rotating at such a speed as to move the board after they have seized it quicker than the movement of the next advancing board operated by the pusher 53.

It will be realized that the above machine forms a convenient means of applying transfers automatically to a supply of boards 52 by the aid lof a damping band, the boards being automatically fed to the press and withdrawn therefrom. It utilizes a continuous web of transfers, which is fed by a mechanism capable of easy andconvenient ad'ustment to effect the exact positioning o the transfers beneath the press plates. It also provides a positive holding means to hold the transfer and the damping band together during their movement, and further provides a resilient abutment for the press which is adapted to yield to avoid damage to the parts should a board of greater thickness than that provided for become inserted between the press plates.

No claim is made to the provision of these features per se or apart from combination with means for applying a damp band to the work simultaneously with each fresh section of the transfer web.

The provision of the endless damping band and its mode of actuation form no part of the present invention.

I claim 1. In a press, a pair of press plates, means to apply heat to one of said plates, an endless band or porous material located principally above said plates and having a bight extending between said plates, means to apply moisture to said band, means to support said Web and band adjacent said plates, said grippers being positively moved during said feeding movement to maintain the Web and band together.

3. The combination claimed in claim l in which the means to support said Web is adjustable in the direction of feed of the Web to provide for the accurate positioning of the elements of said Web.

4. The combination claimed in claim 1 in which the Web is supported from rollers arranged on opposite sides of the machine, one of said rollers being driven by `a chain and sprocket gear, the rollers being carried by a yoke adjustable in the direction of feed of said Web Within the limit allowed by the amount of slack permissible in the cha-in of said gear.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

HAROLD JOHN TAPLIN. 

